Clearance needed for a Big Boy

3.5" is NOT enough for the BB on a curve going next to a wall. We went 4 1/2" with an 080 curve. You will need at least 4" from the wall to the center rail. Take some track sections, lay it out next to the wall and set your BB on it. Thats the best way to know for sure

I'm not sure of your Big Boy manufacturer, but 3.5" is probably not enough.

which bb is it

and who made it

need to know if it is scale or semi scale

I am positive that 3.5 Inches from the wall is not enough I place a BB on my holiday display on a 6 X10 display and my BB has to have about 5.5 inches from the wall to clear or it hits and scrapes the side with anything else

 

 

I had 3.5 inches of clearance from the wall to the track with 096 curves and easements.... and the first time I ran my Big Boy around the curve it left a nice black pin stripe on the drywall...

I was told with big boy o gauge you have to allow 3.5 inches from the center rail for  the proper clearance!center rail to outside 3 1/2  inches

Alan

I have 0-72 curves if you plan on any tree's or? in curved area I allowed 5 1/2" center rail to wall leaves about 1-1 1/2" clearance.

 

also if any tunnels close to your curves allow no less then 12" straight prior to big boy entering the tunnel portal or a wider portal if on a curve.

 

I can measue my track when I get home.  I have a MTH Premier and I had to addjust the track several times in one corner to get the Big Boy from making a line on it.  The best thing you can do is as others have stated.  Put some track down and test the fit.  I also had to modify a couple bridges coming out of a curve.

That would be a nice piece of info for scale steam, clearance required on 072. Some steamers it may be the cab swing out.

On a UP Big Boy my guess is the boiler end will strike a lot of things at 3.5"

My VL BB on O72 touches at 3" from center, so 3.5" would be fine to clear.  But I will have 5" from the wall when I build as I want to put something between the wall and the track.

Thanks everyone for the quick responses, I will have to try some track on the floor as you advised.  My MTH BB is off premises at this point, however will be attending our club meeting soon where one of our members has a many more than one on his layout. When we fire up we let the local fire dept. know all's A-OK.

 

Jack 

I measured my two closest points to a wall and I have 3 1/2" from the center rail.  That leaves me about 3/8" between the wall and the edge of the Bid Boy.

Measuring Atlas O, 072 curves our Club master carpenter gets exact 3" center rail to wall so my way of thinking the space needed would be a least 3.5", I have room for 4.5" which is what I will use.  If anyone has a curved bridge with railings, the equipment (pipes) hanging from under the BB cab should also be taken into consideration on curves.

 

 We also measured a BB on 099 curves, from the end of the Atlas O ties, clearance is .75".  Also you cannot run a Y3B on MTH's 40-1031 Steel Arch Bridge bridge, not enough side clearance with the cross rod hangers on this engine.

 

These clearances  do not take into consideration passenger car hangover on inside curves, on double main lines. Hope this info is helpful.

 

Jack 

You can reduce the required clearance, and the trains will look better, if you use an "easement" going into the curve. That's assuming the track parallels the wall before heading in to the curve. With sectional track, just one or two sections of wider radius will give an adequate easement effect without adding much to the overall diameter of the curve. Maybe O-108 leading in to O72? SCARM or other track-planning software will help you figure the additional width of the curve, if you want to be precise. Best to lay it out and try your loco on it before committing to build it.

 

I run an MTH bigboy on O54 curves with O72 easements; wider curves would look better but my space is limited. The overhang is quite noticeable; I don't remember the actual measurements offhand. I didn't really plan to have a Bigboy but a friend made me a great deal on it. The big articulateds really look better on much wider curves IMO.

A lot........... Jack you would not believe what we had to do at NJ Hi Railers to accommodate those behemoths. But is was worth it.

More info is always helpful. Just purchased two of these and almost bought a Lionel y-3 blowout. Wouldn't have been good getting it wedged in the middle!

Its a "big boy" if something is in its way, i'm sure it will knock it out of the way!

You'd be surprised.  Not if it's a wall stud or well-braced tunnel portal on a curve!  Several layouts I know have needed more than a few "modifications" so the  big Boy can run freely without incident.  

 

David

rocky mountaineer you are right not everything is movable by the big boy! but with it being diecast if it hits the right thing a chuck will break off and then no room modification would be necessary. run it fast and problem solved!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some food for thought... courtesy of the North Penn club!!! 

 

 

Tunnel portal before the Big Boy arrived.  Life was clean and simple.  But trouble is lurking within here...    We wanted GRJ to give it full throttle... afterall die-cast vs. foam... it's a clear winner.  But he wanted to play it safe since the Big Boy was on its maiden voyage here. 

 

 

Of course, having the right tools makes the job a bit easier! 

 

 

Here's another tunnel portal AFTER surgery to accommodate the Big Boy!

 

 

Good thing this guy was on the inside track here.  The outer track would have meant more tunnel portal surgery. 

 

 

Straight-aways are no problem, of course:

 

 

Anybody else think you don't need to plan ahead for this Big Boy??? 

 

David

 

Or you could just use bigger curve??? That would solve several problems i see there!


       

NJ Hirailers has a large layout with wide curves and we had to make modifications to accommodate the "Big Boys". Most of these monsters will probably end up as shelf

queens......... 

I bought my Big Boy First, then built the layout.

 

I think the main lesson is don't put tunnel portals on curves.

Agree 1,000%. 

 

David